The weather was bitterly cold, with large goose feather snowflakes falling relentlessly. Ye Xian had just left the Court of Judicial Review, still wearing a sable cape. Snow covered the outer city beyond the Forbidden Palace, with imperial yellow glazed roof tiles and vermilion palace walls visible in the distance.
Master Wei took the small purple clay teapot from his hands and invited him to sit in the carriage hung with thick sapphire blue diamond-patterned curtains. The coachman raised his whip, and the carriage clip-clopped toward Yuer Hutong.
Behind the carriage followed several guards from the Marquis of Changxing’s manor, handpicked by the Marquis himself from the Iron Cavalry to escort Ye Xian. Currently, with the Marquis not fully recovered from his injuries, he had entrusted a portion of the household affairs to Ye Xian’s management. Since Ye Xian had no martial skills, he had become increasingly cautious in all matters.
Thus, this carriage, along with its entourage of stern-faced guards in padded jackets, attracted countless glances as they passed by the Imperial Kitchen, the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and through the Chengtianen Gate. Everyone knew this was the heir of the Changxing Marquis’s household.
Master Wei poured hot water into the purple clay teapot and handed it back to Ye Xian. “Young Master, warm your hands.” He continued discussing matters, “The snow is falling so heavily, and with this year’s poor harvest… The disaster in Shanxi is severe; I’ve heard tens of thousands have already starved to death… The Vice Minister of Revenue submitted a memorial to the Grand Secretariat, but the Prime Minister simply set it aside. That Minister Chen glanced at it but didn’t act… The Shanxi Provincial Administration Commissioner Yuan Zhongru was originally a good friend of Minister Fan—when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold.”
“Although it’s a political struggle, Minister Zhang’s behavior is truly excessive. Nearly five hundred thousand people in Shanxi’s severely affected areas cannot be completely ignored…”
Ye Xian caressed his purple clay teapot, seemingly not hearing a word.
Master Wei expected him to say something, but Ye Xian remained silent. This information had come from his fellow alumnus Ma Jingchang, who served as a Proofreader in the Hall of Right Spring Fragrance. He also mentioned that the Emperor was only eleven years old, and Minister Zhang controlled everything. If no one dared to step forward, he would truly hold absolute power. The Marquis of Changxing was the most prestigious among the hereditary nobles; if his household chose not to intervene, no one could restrain Minister Zhang.
Despite the cold weather, Master Wei broke into intermittent sweats.
He felt he shouldn’t have mentioned this matter to the Young Master.
Master Wei quickly changed the subject: “Just chatting with the Young Master about the disaster situation. The snow is getting heavier with no sign of stopping. Yesterday, Guard Li said he went to Huichun House for a drink but found even their tavern closed. He was quite upset.”
Ye Xian finally smiled faintly and replied, “As a mere sixth-rank official in the Court of Judicial Review, how could I manage such matters… Zhang Julian is a seasoned veteran who surely knows the urgency of each situation. The disaster in Shanxi is related to the case of Fan Chuan’s son’s embezzlement—whoever dares to interfere must be prepared to handle the mess. Zhang Julian… he sees everything clearly; why would he need others to worry for him?”
Zhang Julian had been dissatisfied with Yuan Zhongru for a long time but couldn’t find an opportunity to deal with him. Yuan Zhongru was also an old fox, guarding himself meticulously. Unfortunately, no matter how formidable a person might be, they could guard against human schemes but not natural disasters. Now presented with such a perfect opportunity, Zhang Julian was determined to use this chance to destroy Yuan Zhongru completely. Furthermore, he wanted to find a scapegoat to absolve himself of any responsibility.
Ye Xian couldn’t be bothered with these matters.
However, his father’s advisor Master Wei was truly inadequate… Though considered a strategist, his assessment of the situation was less insightful than the illiterate Li Xianhuai. Ye Xian found such people irritating as if he needed to explain everything to them.
He sipped his tea and said no more.
Master Wei awkwardly acknowledged and instructed the coachman to drive toward the right side gate, which was commonly used by military officials.
According to his status, Young Master Ye should use the right side gate. According to his official rank, he should use the left side gate. The Young Master chose whichever pleased him, depending on his mood.
However, Ye Xian spotted a blue-curtained carriage passing by outside, bearing a ram-horn lantern with silver-gilt rhinoceros patterns, heading toward the left side gate.
After a moment’s thought, he instructed the coachman: “Take the left side gate.”
The carriage moved faster and became blocked by the blue-curtained carriage at the left side gate entrance.
The driver was a square-faced man with bushy whiskers and hands like palm-leaf fans. Seeing this carriage switch from the right side to block their way, he gruffly said, “What kind of driver are you… You were supposed to take the right side, why are you coming over to block our path!”
The coachman was equally vocal and immediately retorted: “Our carriage was already on the road; you came out behind us, so there’s a matter of who arrived first. You’re cutting in front of us, and you have the nerve to complain?”
The bearded man glared, about to say something when a low, gentle voice came from inside the carriage: “Hu Rong, let the Young Master’s carriage pass first.”
Hearing this voice, Ye Xian had Master Wei lift the curtain and say with some surprise: “So it’s Minister Chen’s carriage. My apologies.”
A slender hand lifted the fine cloth window curtain, revealing a man wearing a black official hat and a crimson-collared right-fastening robe with a rhinoceros leather belt at his waist. It was the Minister of Revenue, Chen Yanyun. The Third Lord Chen glanced at the guards behind Ye Xian and smiled: “No apologies necessary. The Young Master arrived first, so you should go first. I’ll follow.”
Ye Xian glanced inside the carriage, a slight smile appearing at the corner of his mouth: “Minister Chen is overwhelmed with affairs of state. As a mere official in the Court of Judicial Review, how could I inconvenience you?”
“My official business is concluded, so it’s no trouble,” he smiled, making a polite gesture with his hand before lowering the curtain.
Hu Rong promptly moved the carriage aside to let Ye Xian’s carriage pass.
The coachman, learning that his master had stopped the carriage of the powerful Minister Chen, was terrified beyond measure. He anxiously looked back at Ye Xian.
Ye Xian’s eyes grew cold, though his face maintained a smile: “Minister Chen is letting us pass, hurry along.”
Inside Chen Yanyun’s carriage were deep blue Lu silk cushions, without even a brazier. There was nothing else of note. With the New Year approaching, the Grand Secretariat surely had numerous affairs to attend to, yet Chen Yanyun had left so early—what could he be planning to do?
Ye Xian gazed at the brazier fire, deep in thought.
Currently in the Grand Secretariat, besides Zhang Julian and Chen Yanyun, there were also Grand Secretary He Wenxin of Wuying Hall, Grand Secretary Yao Ping of Wenhua Hall, Grand Secretary Wang Xuanfan of Jinshen Hall, and Grand Secretary Liang Lin of Huagai Hall. Except for Deputy Prime Minister He Wenxin and Yao Ping, who were considered neutral, the other two had connections with Zhang Julian.
A matter requiring Chen Yanyun’s attention… Ye Xian couldn’t help thinking of the Shanxi Provincial Administration Commissioner.
Hu Rong, watching the Changxing Marquis heir’s carriage leave through the side gate, whispered to Chen Yanyun: “Third Lord, although Lord Ye is the Young Master, he is still only a sixth-rank official in the Court of Judicial Review. Why should we yield to him…”
The Third Lord Chen seemed unconcerned and replied indifferently: “It’s merely giving way… This Changxing Marquis heir is indeed a formidable young man, though still too young.” He showed signs of fatigue, rubbing his brow before instructing, “After passing through Chengtianmen Gate, go to the residence of Left Vice Minister of Revenue Zheng Yun.”
Hu Rong acknowledged and raised his whip again.
When Ye Xian returned to the Changxing Marquis manor, he first went to see his father. Though the Marquis had preserved his life during the palace coup, he had suffered fundamental injuries. After several months of recovery, he could only move about within the residence. He wore a thick silk-padded jacket and practiced calligraphy at his desk.
Seeing Ye Xian return, the Marquis set his brush on the brush rest. Ye Xian told him about the Shanxi disaster, and after pondering for a long time, the Marquis asked, “…You think Master Wei is unsuitable?”
Ye Xian smiled slightly: “You may continue to use him, but not at my side.” Seeing his father dressed so bulkily, he recalled how in previous winters, no matter how cold, his father wore only two thin layers. He thought to himself that his father now feared the cold as well.
The Marquis nodded casually: “Always full of your ideas, with those twisted thoughts of yours—just like your maternal grandfather’s temperament…” He waved his hand, “Find whatever advisor you want; I’m too lazy to manage you!”
Ye Xian felt none of the Marquis’s advisors were competent.
He summoned Li Xianhuai: “…Release all the advisors serving the Marquis, and give each of them two hundred taels of silver as a parting gift.”
Li Xianhuai had long disliked those pretentious advisors who did nothing useful except raise birds all day, so he was delighted: “Those advisors have been irritating for ages; good riddance!” After thinking for a moment, he said to Ye Xian, “By the way, Young Master, do you remember that Miss Gu you met before?”
Of course, Ye Xian remembered… Why was Li Xianhuai bringing up Gu Jin Chao?
He glanced at Li Xianhuai: “What are you trying to say?”
Li Xianhuai scratched his head and chuckled: “You know I enjoy a drink now and then. Yesterday, since Huichun House was closed, I went to Old Jin’s tavern. That place is connected to the Shuntian Prefecture Deputy Magistrate’s in-laws. They were saying their cousin wanted to marry Miss Gu. They described it vividly, saying their cousin’s mother personally went to propose…”
Before he finished, Ye Xian frowned deeply: “Be clear, who went to propose to the Gu family?”
Li Xianhuai explained: “Who else but that notorious Wang Zan! Only their Wang family would treasure such a dog… This servant thought to inform you since you’ve had frequent dealings with Miss Gu. But don’t think too much of it—Wang Zan’s mother had just gone to propose when Miss Gu’s cousin went to propose right after. Now the Wang family has completely lost face; even their in-laws’ assistants are spreading this story everywhere…”
Ye Xian’s expression darkened. While he had been overwhelmingly busy, such significant events had occurred with Gu Jin Chao!
Wang Zan—what sort of creature was he to propose to Gu Jin Chao? And to be so disrespectful as to send his mother directly. And who was this cousin of Gu Jin Chao, also rushing to propose?
Was Gu Jin Chao about to be engaged?
Ye Xian, with a gloomy face, ordered: “Forget about the advisors for now. Go immediately and investigate this matter thoroughly—this Wang Zan, Gu Jin Chao’s cousin—trace their ancestry back eight generations!”
Li Xianhuai was startled by his master’s reaction. What was happening? Who exactly was this Miss Gu that the Young Master was so concerned about her affairs? Even ordering an investigation into her cousin’s ancestry going back eight generations!
Seeing him standing in a daze, Ye Xian lowered his voice: “…Do I need to escort you personally?”
Hearing this, Li Xianhuai jumped up as if his backside was on fire: “Please wait, Young Master. This servant is going right away.”